RIYADH: Education Minister Azzam Al-Dakhil launched an initiative to encourage young people to take to entrepreneurship.

The “Business Makers” initiative was launched in Jeddah through the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Endowment Fund of King Abdulaziz University.

The plan would be taken to five other cities with workshops entitled “Disciplined Entrepreneurship” conducted by a team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Bill Aulet, dean of the entrepreneurship institute at MIT, leads the team, the organizers said. The idea is to enable Saudi universities to contribute to local economic development through the Al-Alia program for the development of entrepreneurship.

The workshop saw the launch of the book “Disciplined Entrepreneurship” in Arabic. Considered a significant reference for entrepreneurs, the book has topped bestseller list in the United States, and been translated into more than 25 languages.

The objectives of the ‘Business Maker’ initiative are to support young people to launch their own businesses, and take up careers in industries required by the Kingdom’s market. This is part of the country’s plan to diversify its economy and generate quality and sustainable jobs for university graduates.

Universities are a critical part of the plan, with a series of research centers envisioned, said the organizers.